Artificial limb



Mar. 3.11925;

w. vE. MASON ARTIFICIAL LIMB Filed Dec. 31, 1923 i quently Patented Mar.,l 3, 1925.

WESLEY 'E. MASON, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

Application filed December 3l, 1923. Serial No. 683,588.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,VVEsLEY citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of 6'- Texas, have invented certain new. anduseful Improvements in Artificial Limbs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in'articial limbs. 10 Considerable difliculty has been experienced by those wearing artificial legs attached to stumps, because 'of the substantially non-yielding sockets commonly used, which results in soreness and irritation, frerequiring further amputation. The object of the invention is to rovide MASON,

a socket having sufficient rigidity to old its c shape, butpossessing ample resiliency and flexibility to make for comfort. A particular object ofthe invention isto 1 provide a flexible socket having a shell `molded and shaped to fit the stump of the leg, but possessing rigidity as well asl ilexibility, thus making for comfort. socket so as to take 'the weight H the end of the stump, thus relievingpain, irritation and soreness.

A` construction' designed to carry out 4the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention..

The-invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specil fication and yby reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example 4of the invention is shown, and wherein: Y

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of av leg constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectiona view on'the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional. View on the line 3-3 of Fig.`1.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates Th 11 the ankle and the foot of an artificial leg, 12 the shank of the leg. zThese parts may be of wood or any other proper material and may be suitably constructed. At its upper end the shank 12 is reduced to form a tenon 13 and a shoulder 14 at the base of the tenon. The all important feature of the invention is a shell 15 receiving at its bottom, the tenon and resting upon the shoulder 14. This shellis formed in such a way as to possess sulfi- An important object is to construct the.

'the shank 12, so as to cient rigidity to hold its shape yet having ample flexibility to make a substantially soft socket for the stump of the wearer; and it must. lit thefstuinp Without subjecting any particular part to an excessive strain.

ells are'common in this artV being built of various materials, but so faras I am aware after extensive investigations, all of those previous to my mventlon have been built up of stiE materials having little or no flexibility and depending upon the vent and its adjusting lace to get iexibility and this has not been satisfactory. i y

In making the shell .I' first take a plaster cast of the stump so as to obtain the exact 'contour' and shape thereof. I then take a. piece of sole leather or equivalent material and mold it-toexactly t the cast. I do not glue pieces together or build up layers in forming the shell, butuse a single piece of leather. The making of the shell requires considerable skill and care. A shell thus formed will hold its shape, butwill be flexible enough to yield readily to pressure.

The lower end of the shell is fastened around the tenon in any suitable manner. A facing or covering of thin leather or other finishing material 16 is glued to the outer surface of the shell and extends down onto give a finished appearance. A linin terial, is fitte /snugly within the shell and receives a finishing sleeve I8 of thin, soft leather, or equivalent material, which with the felt may be rolled over the top of the 4shell and suitably fastened.

The shell and` parts 16, 17 and 18` are formed with a vent 19 in the rear of the socket. A tongue 2O extending up the inside of the socket protects the stump from the vent. An eyelet stri 21 is fastened o n each side of the vent and)rceives a lace 22. is vent is used to tighten the socket around the stump and to give an adjustment when necessary, but it is not depended upon to give flexibility or resiliency to the socket.

Owing to the softness and llexiblity of the socket the 17 of felt or equivalent mal10o stump may besupported therein without touching at its lower end,` thereby relieving the lower sensitive end of the stump from the irritation and soreness which results from contact, `articularly with pads and the like, The- 1os` exible shell will l conformto the sides of the stump and will yield to the 'flexing of the muscles and cords,

thus making for comfort and easy walking.

Various changes in the size and shape of 5 the different parts, as' well as modifications and alterations may be made Within the sco of the appended claims. e

at I' claim, is: A-

1. In an artificial limb, a lower 'foot' por- 10 tion an upper flexible socket formed of a VLsingle piece of leather molded to a precast form of the /particular stump to be received in the socket and having a laced -ventata its rear side, a felt lining within theshell, and a-nishing sleeve within said lining.

2. In an artificial limb, a lower foot portion, a iiexible shell formed of one piece and fastened to the upper end of the foot por-- tion, a facing covering the shell, a felt lining within the shell, and e finishing-'sleeve Within the lining rolled with the lining over the upper edge of the shell., In testimony whereof I axfm signature.

' WESLEY E. XIASON. 

